Throttling reset valve



Jam 9, 1951 J. L. EWING THROTTLING RESET VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April so, 1945 \NVENTOR Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE THROTTLING RESET VALVE John Lathrop Ewing, San Marino, Califl, assignor to General Controls 00., Glendale, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 39, 1945, Serial No. 591,209 14 Claims. (c1..1's7 144) This invention relates to an electro-magnetic reset valve for fluid fuels.

Such valves are used in fuel supply systems to optionally control the flow of fuel to the main burner, and to prevent such flow of fuel unless a pilot flame is burning. As long as the pilot flame is burning, the valve may be opened and closed as desired, the pilot flame serving to ignite the fuel passing to the burner whenever the valve is open. Upon failure of the pilot flame. passage of fuel through the valve is prevented,

and can not be reestablished until the pilot is spouse to energization and deenergization of the I magnet, the electro-magnet itself being movable for supplementarily operating one of said valves.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reset valve having a closure member onti'onally operable to control the passage of fuel through the valve, and arranged to close automatically in response to the creation of an unsafe condition. Itis another object of this invention to provide a reset valve having a closure member optiona'ily operable to control the passage of fuel through the valve during energization of an electro-magnet, and which closes automatically upon deenergization thereof.

' This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described. in

detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limfiiting sense, since the scope of this invention is .best defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal section through a valve incorporating the invention;

: Figure 2 is a cross section taken as indicated by the line 2-4 on Figure 1.;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse section taken as indicated by the line .33 on Figure 1;, but showing a different operating position of the parts; and Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure :3; showing other operating positions-of the parts. This valve is of the type forv controlling the fluid fuel supply to a burner which is operated at irregular intervals, a constantly burning pilot flame being provided for igniting the main burner after periods of inactivity.

"The valve structure comprises a main closure member which is arranged to be manually operable for optionally controlling the supply of fuel to a main burner (not shown); Obviously, it is important to provide means whereby, upon ex. tinguishment of the main burner and of the pilot burner, the supply of fuel to these burners is in-- terrupted. Further, means must be provided for preventing reestablishment of the supply to the main burner until the'pilot burner has been relighted- For this purpose, the main closure memher i controlling the flow of fuel through the valve is of magnetic material and is arrangedto be movable to open position through the medium of an electro magnet 2, energized in response to electricity generated by thev heat of the pilot burner flame in a well known manner, as by a thermocouple (not shown). The magnet 2 is ar ranged to be moved by the control handle 3, whereby, when the pilot flame is burning and the magnet 2 is energized, the closure l may be moved by moving the magnet, optionally to control the passage of fuel through the valve or to prevent it entirely. Upon extinguishment of the pilot burner the electro-magnet 2 is .deenergized and loses control of the closure member I. Thus, if the closure l was in open position, it would immediately close, stopping all flow of fuel. Eurther, it would be impossible to move closure I to open the valve until the magnet 2 was again energized, thus ensuring against opening of the valve until the pilot burner is lighted. To permit control of theclosure i only inresponse to movie ment of the magnet 2, the. magnet is so propertioned and arranged as to be incapable of influencing the closure I unless the magnet 2 is moved to initially engage the closure. 7 A supplemental or by-pass valve 4 is provided. for supplying fuel to the pilot burner when the main valve is closed and is arranged to be maintained in open position only as long as the magnet 2 is energized. In this way, escape of unignited .fuelfrom the pilot burner is prevented.

When it is desired to light the pilot burner,

the magnet 2 is moved downwardl by means of the handle 3, to engage the main valve closure I. A thumb button 6 is arranged to open the bypass valve 4, by appropriate operation after the magnet 2 has been moved into engagement with the closure I. Hence, the supply of fuel to the pilot burner may be established and the burner lighted when desired. After a brief interval the magnet 2 becomes energized so that the closure I will be lifted with the magnet 2 to open the valve when the magnet is moved upwardly by the handle. By appropriate operation of the handle 3 to raise and lower the magnet 2, the closure I may be moved to fully open position or to closed position, or to any intermediate position to optionally control the passage of fuel. Upon flame failure and deenergization of the magnet 2, the closure I immediately moves to closed position.

Referring to Figures 1, and 2, the valve structure is shown as comprising an elongated body I having oppositely directed threaded openings II and I2 for connection to suitable conduits and forming, respectively, the inlet and the outlet. A wall I3 separates the inlet II from the outlet I2 and is provided with a port I4 surrounded by an annular valve seat I5 for permitting passage of fuel through the body Ill. The main valve closure I is adapted to close port I4 by engagement with seat I5, and is movable axially away therefrom to open the port I4, hence the amount of fuel passing through the port being determined by the distance of the closure I from its seat I5.

The body I0 is provided with an upwardly directed cylindrical extension I6 above the port I4, closed at its upper end by a detachable cover I! and providing a space I8 in continuous communication with the inlet II through space I9. The magnet structure 2 is supported in the space I8 for movement axially of the seat [5 and comprises a pair of spaced concentric tubular members 29 and 2I of magnetic material secured in assembled relationship by rings 22 and 23 of non-magnetic material and providing a space for accommodating a winding 24. A cap 21, also of non-magnetic material, is secured to the upper end of the outer shell 29 and has a central spherical socket 28 rotatably engaging a ball 29 formed in the lower end of the valve stem 30.

The valve stem 30 has an enlarged exteriorly threaded intermediate portion 3I which is in engagement with an interiorly threaded boss 32 formed on the cover IT. The valve stem 39 also has a reduced cylindrical upper portion 33 projecting above the boss 32, with the handle 3 secured thereon, suitable packing means indicated by 34 being provided to prevent leakage past the stem 30.

Rotation of the stem 30, as by means of the handle 3 serves to move the magnet 2 either toward or away from the valve seat I5, depending on the direction of rotation, and if the magnet 2 is energized by current pressing through the winding 24, the closure member I, after initial movement of the magnet 2 into engagement with the closure will be correspondingly moved, to open and close the port I4. Upon deenergization of the magnet 2, by interruption of the current flow in the winding 24, the closure I will drop to seat I5 by gravity and close the port l4.

To maintain the electro-magnet 2 and the closure I in substantial axial alinement with the seat I5 atall times, the magnet 2 and the closure I are made of the same outside diameter and are .by a conduit 45 (see Figure 3).

4 guided by several vertically extending ribs 35 on the interior of the body extension I8. Furthermore, to prevent rotation of the stem 39 being imparted to the magnet 2, the latter is restrained by a pair of lugs 36 formed on the exterior of the shell 29 and engaging opposite sides of one of the ribs 35.

.To provide a safety feature by insuring that such closure occurs upon the establishment of an unsafe condition, the energization of the magnet 2 is made dependent in a known way upon the existence of the pilot flame. Thus leads 31 and 38 from the coil 24 are connected to binding posts 39 and 4D in the Wall of the extension I6 and these in turn are connected by leads (not shown) to a thermocouple subjected to the heat of the pilot flame. Upon flame failure, the supply of current is substantially instaneously interrupted, the magnet 2 is deenergized, allowing closure I to drop to closed position, and preventing movement thereof to open position until such time as the pilot flame is again burning.

To insure against escape of unignited fuel at the pilot burner, the closure I is arranged to interrupt the supply of fuel to the pilot burner at the same time as it closes the port I4. For this purpose, a second valve seat 43 is provided and is so arranged that the closure I seats thereon and on seat I5 simultaneously. The seat 43 may conveniently surround the seat I5 and be spaced therefrom to provide an annular cavity 44, into which opens a supplemental outlet port 45, connected with the pilot burner (not shown) When the closure I is unseated fuel can pass freely from the inlet II into the space 44 and thence to port 45 and the pilot burner. When the closure I is seated, such passage is interrupted.

However, it is necessary to permit fuel to flow to the pilot burner when the closure I has been operated to seat to extinguish the main burner intentionally, and also to establish fuel flow to the pilot burner to initiate operation of the system or to restore operation after flame failure.

. For this purpose, a by-pass or supplemental valve 4 is provided.

Thus, the valve closure I is in the form of a hollow disc as disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 547,383, filed on July 31, 1944, comprising a lower member 49 with a raised peripheral lip 59 to which the upper member 5I is secured as by screws 52. The upper and lower members 49 and 5I cooperate to form a chamber of space 53 which, when the closure member I is seated, is in continuous communication with the space 44 between the valve seats I5 and 43 by one or more ports 54 through the lower member 49.

The upper member 5I has a central port or opening 55 providing a valve seat 56 and adapted to be controlled by a closure member 51', which may be conveniently a steel ball. The upper face of the member 5I is provided with a number of radially extending grooves 58, for maintaining the port 55 in free communication with the space I8 when the closure I is engaged by the magnet structure 2. A light compression spring 69 seated in a well 65 on the lower member 49 serve to urge the closure 57 toward its seat. With the closure I seated, fuel can pass freely to the pilot burner if the supplemental closure 51 is unseated, via grooves 58, port 55, space 53, ports 54 and cavity 44; if the closure I is unseated fuel can pas to the pilot burner as well as to the main burner directly via cavity 44; if both closures I and 51 are seated nofuel at all can pass.

Means are provided whereby the. magnet 2 when energized serves to maintain the supplemental closure 5? unseated, thus permitting fuel to flow to the pilot regardless of whether the closure l is seated or not. For this purposean armature 55 is provided above the magnet Zhaving a push rod '56 extending downwardly through the inner tubular member 2 l of the magnet. --l he push rod 65 is of such length as to maintainthe closure 51 unseated when the closure I and-the armature '65 are in contact with the opposite faces of the magnet '2 (see Figure l). v The-magnet 2 may be provided with pole pieces 6 which cooperate with the armature 65 to reduce the reluctance of the magnetic circuit between'the armature and the magnet. V

The armature and'pu'sh rod 65 and 56 are guided for movement substantially axially of the magnet 2 and the closure i by a number of lugs 61 near the lower end of the inside of tube 2| and by the pins 68; These pins 68 have heads 59 to limit upward movement of the armature 65 and push rod 66 by a light compression spring 10 confined between the armature G5 and lugs 61, when, the

magnet 2 is deenergized. As long as the magnet 2 is energized, the supplemental closure'fi'! is maintained unseated as shown in Figures l and 3. When the magnet is deenergized, the armature 65 is moved up to engage heads 69 by. the

spring 70, the closure 57 thus being seated by the spring 60, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The magnet 2 is incapable when energized. of

moving the armature 65" to a position whereit unseats the closure 57. To unseat the closure 51 and open the by-pass, a rod 12 slidable in an axially extending bore 13 of the valve stem.39 is provided. The rod 12 has an enlarged upper portion 14 carrying the thumb button 6 and. ,ac-

shoulders 15 and 1'! serves to urge the rod 12' upwardly and to maintain resiliently the head 19 at the lower end of the rod 1-2 against the-lower end of the stem Suitable packing 801 is provided between one of the shoulders, as "[6, and the adjacent end of the spring [8 to prevent leakage past the steam. The arrangement is such that with the. parts in the relative positions shown in Figure 5, downward movement of the .rod l2 as by pressure on thumb button 6, will first cause the head 19 to engage the armature 55,, and the push rod 65 to engage the closure 53, and thencause the armature 65 to move into contact with the upper face of the magnet 2., and cause the closure 51 to move to open position. Upon release of the pressure, if the magnet 2 ha become energized, asbythe pilot flame, the armature 65 and the; closu-re 51 will remain in these positions, rod "returning to its initial position. If, however, the pilot flame is not burning all parts will return to their initial positions, closure 51 reseating. g The operation of the valve may -now'be discussed. With the magnet 2 in engagement with the closure l, and the pilot flame burning and magnet 2 energized, the by-pass closure 51 will be maintained in open position. By appropriate rotation of the handle 3 toraise and lower-the ma net 2, the closure 1 may be moved-to-the fully {open .PQSition of Fig. 3., .or tosome.,:inter-media'te position and/or returned to closed position; as

1 Also, the armature is released, ensuring closing of the by-pass 4. The part are then in the relative positions of Fig. 4. If failure of the pilot flame occurs while the closure I is seated, arma ture '65 is released as before, allowing the closure 5'! to seat, asshown in Fig. 5. n1 both cases, all passage oi" fuel through the valve is stopped. If an attempt is made to open the valve when the pilot flame is not burning, the magnet 2, as it moves upward, leaves the closure 1 seated, as shown in Fig. 4-, maintaining the valve closed; It is impossible to unseat the closure l unless the pilot flame is burning.

The inventor claims:

1. A reset valve for fluid fuels havin a main flow passage therethrough, a main valve closure for controlling flow of fuel through the valve'and urged to closed position, a movable electro-ma net, including a movable coil, movable into engagement withsaid main valve closure to enable said eleot-romagnet coil, when energized, to move said closure optionally between open and closed positions in response to movement of the magnet, and when deenergized releasing said closure for movement to closed position, means adapted to form a supplemental flow passage .for passing fuel when said main closure is in closed position, a supplemental closure for said supplemental flow passage, and means controlled by said magnet when energized, for maintaining said supple.- mental closure in open position.

2, A reset valve for fluid fuels comprising, a body having an inlet, a main outlet, and a supplemental outlet, means forming a ported seat for passing fluid through the Valve to said main out- 'let and to said supplemental outlet, a main closure member movable with respect to said seat for controlling flow of fluid therethrough, an electro-magnet supported for movement toward and away from said seat, serving when energized and upon movement to initially engage. said closure, to optionally move said closure between port opening and port closing positions in response to movement of the magnet, meansfor optionally passing fluid to said supplemental outlet when said closure is in port closing position, including alby-pass port, a supplemental closure for said by-pass port, means for operatin said supplemental closure to open and to close, and means whereby said magnet upon energization acts to maintain the supplemental closure in open position;

3. A reset valve for fluid fuels comprising, a

body having an inlet, a main outlet, and a supplemental outlet, a pair of valve seats for passing fluid respectively to said main and supplemental outletsa main closure member cooperating with said seats, operable to close and open both of said outlets, means forming a by-pass for passing fuel to said supplemental outlet when. the main closure is seated, a supplemental closure for the lay-pass, operable to open to pass fuel to said supplemental outlet and to close, electro-magnetic means, including a movable coil, movable into engagement with said main closure member to enable said electro-magnetic means to shift said closure to open position when said electromagnetic means is energized, and electro-ma'gnetic means for maintaining said supplemental closure in fuel passing condition for all adjusted positionsxof the main closure member.

- .7 4. A reset'valve for fluid fuels havinga main flow passage therethrough, a main valve closure, an electro-magnet, including a movable coil, movable to cause, when energized, said main valve closure to move to open and to close in accordance with the movement of said electromagnet, means forming a supplemental flow pas: sage for passing fluid when said main valve closure is in closed position, a supplemental closure for cooperating with the main valve closure to control said supplementalflow passage, mean urging said supplemental closure to closed position, and means cooperating with said electro-magnet, when the electro-magnet is energized, to maintain said supplemental closure in open position for all adjusted positions of the main valve closure.

5. A reset valve having a body with an inlet, a main port and a supplemental port for passing fluid fuel through the valve, a pair of valve closure members for respectively controlling the passage of fuel through said ports and urged to port closing position, a movably mounted electromagnet for moving, when energized, one of said closure members to open and to close its associated port in response to movement of the magnet, means movable independently of said'electro-magnet to cause the other closure member to open the other port, and means whereby said magnet when energized maintains said other closure in port opening position. a

6. A reset valve having a body with an inlet, a main port and a supplemental port communicable with said inlet for passing fluid fuel through the valve, a pair of closure member for respectively controlling passage of fuel through said ports and urged to port closing condition, means operable upon establishment of a safe condition'for moving the main port closure member to open and close said main port, means whereby the means for moving said main port closure member is rendered ineffective to move said main port closure member to open position and is rendered ineffective to hold the mainport closure member in open position upon establishment of.

an unsafe condition, means 'for causing passage of fuel through said supplemental port as long as said safe condition persists and for-interrupting said passage upon establishment of an unsafe condition, andineans for optimally causin pas sage of fuel through said supplemental port after establishment of an unsafe condition.

7. A reset valve havin a body with an inlet,

" a main portand a supplemental port communicable with said inlet for passing fluid fuel through the valve, a pair of closure members for respectively controlling passage of fuel through said ports and urged to port closing position, means operable upon establishment of a safe condition for moving the main port closure member 60 to open and close said port, means whereby the means for moving said closure is rendered ineffective to move said main port closure member to open position and is rendered ineffective to hold the main port closure member in open position upon establishment of an unsafe condition, means maintaining said other closure in open position as long as said safe condition persists, and operable upon movement of said main port closure to closed position in response to an unsafe condition to permit said other closure to close said supplemental port, and means for optionally moving said other closure to open position.

8. A resetvalve. for fluid fuels. having a main flow passage therethrough, a main valve closure for controlling flow of fuel through the valve, means forming a supplemental flow passage for passin fuel when the main closure is in closed position, a supplemental valve closure for said supplemental flow passage and urged to closed position, a movably mounted electro-magnet, said magnet being movable to a position to attract said main closure when said magnet is energized l0 and thereafter to move said member to open and to close in response to movement of the magnet, means for moving said supplemental closureto open position, and meanswhereby said electromagnet when energized maintains said supplemental closure in open position.

9. A reset valve for fluid. fuels having a main flow passage therethrough, a main valve closure for controllingflow of fuel through the valve and urged to closed position, means formin a supplemental flow passage communicable with said main passage for passing fuel when the main closure is in closed position, a supplemental valve closure for said supplemental flow passage, means effective upon establishment of a safe condition to operate said main closure optionally to open and to close, and ineffective to hold the main closure in open position and ineffective to move said main closure to open position upon establishment of an unsafe condition, means urging 3 said supplemental valve closure to closed posi; tion, means for moving saidsupplemental valve closure to open position to establish a safe condition, and means maintaining said supplemental closure in open position, as long as a safe condition persists. V 10. A reset valve for fluid fuels comprising a body having an inlet, a main outlet, and a sup:- plemental outlet, a pair of spaced valve seats, one within the other, in communication with the in- 40 let, a passage establishing communication between the space within the inner seat and the main outlet, a passage establishin communication between the space between the seats and the supplemental outlet, a hollow closure member for cooperating with said seats to close said passage and having an inlet port for admittin fuel into said member as wellas a passage for admitting fuel from the interior. of the member to the space between the seats, valve mean for controlling 5 saidinletport and resiliently urged toward closed position, an electro-magnet supported for movement with respect to said seats and adapted upon movement toward the valve seats to engage the closure member, said closure member being arranged tobe held for movement with said magnet, when said magnet is energized and engaging said member, whereby the position of said member is adjusted with respect to said seats by move ment of said magnet, an element carried by said magnet and adapted for movement with respect thereto to enter said inlet port and unseat said valve means when said magnet and said closure member are in engagement, manually operable means for moving said element to unseat said valve means, and means whereby said magnet when energized maintains said element in valve opening position. i

11. A reset valve for fluid fuelscompri'sing a body having an inlet, a main outlet, and a supplemental outlet, a pair of spaced valve seat-s, one

within the other, in communication with themlet, a passage establishing communication between the space within the inner seat and the main outlet, a passage establishing communica- 5 tion betwee'nthe space between the seat and the supplemental outlet, a hollow closure member for cooperating with said seats to close said passages and having an inlet port for admitting fuel into said member as well as a passage for admitting fuel from the interior of the member to the space between the seats, valve means for controlling said inlet port and resiliently urged toward closed position, an electro-magnet supported for movement with respect to said seats and adapted upon movement toward the valve seats to engage the closure member, said closure member being arranged to be held for movement with said magnet when said magnet is energized and engaging said member, whereby the position of said member is adjusted with respect to said seats by movement of said magnet, an element extending through the magnet and movable with respect to the magnet to enter said inlet port and unseat said valve means when said magnet and said closure member are in engagement, manually operable means for moving said element to unseat said valve means, and an armature carried by said element adapted to enga e the opposite face of the magnet from that engaged by said closure to maintain said valve means unseated when the magnet is energized and engaging said closure member.

12. A reset valve having a pair of ports for passing fluid fuel through the valve, closure members respectively for said ports and movable in opposite directions to close said ports, means urgin said closures to port closing positions, and an electro-magnet, including a movable coil, movable into engagement with one of said closure members serving when energized to maintain said closures in port opening condition. y

13. A reset valve for fluid fuels having a main flow passage therethrough, a main valve closure for controlling flow of fuel through the valve and urged to closed position, a movable member including an electro-magnet which, when energized and engaging said closure causessaid closure to move with said member, said member being movable between positions in which said closure opens and closes said flow passage respectively, said magnet when deenergized releasing said closure for movement to closed position independ- 10 ently of said member, a first means adapted to form a supplemental flow passage for passing fuel when said closure is in closed position, a supplemental closure for said supplemental flow passage and urged to closed position, a second means carried by said movable member for optional movement with respect thereto for operating said supplemental closure to open'position, said second means after movement of said main closure to closed position in response to release by said electro-magnet, being rendered efiective to open said supplemental closure by movement of said member to cause said magnet to engage the 010- sure, and means whereby said magnet when energized maintains said supplemental closure in open position.

14. A reset valve for fluid fuels havin a main flow passage therethrough, a main valve closure for controlling the flow of fuel through the valve and urged to closed position, a movable electromagnetic coil movable into engagement with said main valve closure to enable said electromagnet coil, when energized, to move said closure optionally between open and closed position in response to movement of said coil, and de-energizable to release said closure for movement to closed position, means forming a supplemental flow passage for passin fuel when said main closure is in closed position; a supplemental closure for said supplemental flow passage, and means controlled by said electromagnetic coil, when energized, for maintaining said supplemental closure in open position.

JOHN LATHROP EWING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

